would they do this and does it void warranty? (S.cali)

 

if you had any kind of rapport with them, they'd probably do it, and be happy to take your money. Better to use the money to buy an advance timing gun and do it yourself, or find someone who does.

 

hrmm..good point. anyone in s.cali have a timing light?

 

In here they do it all the time, all you need to do is ask...

 

My dealer did it in 6 minutes!! For free of course. 18 deg is within factory specs.

 

The service advisor at my dealership told me that it would immediately void the warranty. I have since heard from a number of different sources that this is BS. I havent gone back to address this issue with the dealership as of yet, but I will most likely find someone else to do it anyway, and not bother with the dealership at all.

 

At my dealer the 24000 mile "D" service (the one that cost $400 and they just inspect stuff !) includes a timing and alignment. I will ask for the highest advance within factory specs and a little toe-out in the front. They should do it no problem.

 

Does the ECU reset the timing?

 

No.

 

Make sure you put a Jumper wire in the harness near the e.c.u. or the ecu will reset the timing. Its a little green covered plug that is tucked just under the far right side of the glove box just above the kick panel that houses the ecu. Wire or even a paper clip bent will slip right in. When it is in the check engine light wil come on. That is when you should proceed to reset the timing.

Mattj


[Modified by Dropspeed, 6:21 AM 9/14/2001]

 

The "correct" timing is 16+or-2 deg. Any dealer that tells you that 18 will void warrenty is FULL OF ****.

 

Is this needed to let the ECU "learn" the new setting or just to get an accurate measurement of the timing?

 

My understanding from the Acura service manual, is so that the ecu can adjust "learn" the new setting, otherwise the ecu will make adjustments (retard) the timing back to were it was originally.

Mattj

 

Thanks!

 

does advancing the timing have any negative effects?

 

TOO much = detonation

too much detonation = BOOM! no more motor.

 

thanks. I should have asked if advancingthe timing to 18 deg has any negative effects...

 

none....

premium gas and 18 degree timing on my car... 18K miles.....

3 track events.... revs = over 8K for extended periods of time.

Not a problem.

Will

 

The manual states 16 degree plus or minus 2, so 18 is within the range of the Honda specs. If there is a problem the B18c5 is equipt with a knock sensor. But the motor will be fine.

Mattj

 

I don't think this is correct.

The purpose for the jumper is so that the ECU does not use it's timing maps while the initial timing is set. The actual ignition timing that is present at any given time is made up of 2 numbers: the initial timing as set by the distributor setting, and an offset determined by the FIXED ignition map in the ECU. Shorting the service jumper forces the ECU to stop adding this additional timing advance and allows an accurate measurement of the initial timing.

Once the initial timing is set the ECU will NOT adapt the existing timing maps (it is not possible) and the result is that all timing events are adjusted slightly via the different initial timing.

One last thing, if the timing is set to high and the engine starts knocking then the ECU will fall back on a limp timing map. The result will be a noticeable drop in power.

Hope this makes sense.

Regards,

 

I think it does... so there is nothing I, or the dealer, need to do to insure that the ECU does not resort back to the original timing after it is adjusted?

 

You think it does what?

 

Advancing ignition timing is easy to do. You shouldn't have to go to the dealership to have it done. 18 degrees is within the factory spec. They say 16, + or - 2 degrees BTDC. When my ITR was stock, I have run as high as 20 degrees BTDC with no ill effects. From what I know, you can crank the distributor as far as you want, but if you go too far, the factory ECU will trip the check engine light (knock sensor code), and back your timing up anyway.

 

Makes sense...

 

LOL. You guys make me laugh.

Have the dealer advance your timing for you?

I needed that. LOL.